A Shorten Labor Government will partner with the McGowan Labor Government by contributing $850 million to build the Morley-Ellenbrook Line, and provide $50 million for a new Railcar Manufacturing Facility in Bellevue.

The Shorten Labor Government will deliver the additional funding for the Morley-Ellenbrook Line in Perth’s north-eastern suburbs, to enable more works to be included as part of the Bayswater Station upgrade project.

This $150 million injection of funding, brings Federal Labor’s total commitment towards the Morley-Ellenbrook Line to $850 million.

The additional funding will help support the McGowan Government in delivering the project, and will fund the construction of the Morley-Ellenbrook platform at the new upgraded Bayswater Station, where it will connect to the Midland Line.

The works will be packaged with the planned Bayswater Station upgrade, due to commence in late 2019, and the works required to integrate the new line with the existing line and road infrastructure associated with the Tonkin Highway upgrade.

The package of works will reduce local disruption and will help deliver value for money in the overall project, as it creates thousands of jobs.

The McGowan Labor Government last year committed $1.6 billion to deliver 246 new METRONET railcars – the biggest-ever order of railcars in WA history.

Part of the plan is also to return railcar manufacturing to the Midland area, following the closure of the famous Midland Railway Workshops 25 years ago by the then Court Liberal Government.

Federal Labor’s $50 million would fund construction of the new Bellevue Railcar Manufacturing Facility, where 246 new railcars for METRONET and the broader Transperth network will be assembled and maintained for decades to come.

The $50 million contribution to the project would add to our existing commitment to invest $3 million to redevelop training workshops at Midland TAFE to ensure it is delivering the skills training required to meet the demands of the METRONET project.

Over the coming two decades, governments around the country will invest billions of dollars in new passenger and freight rail projects.

While Coalition governments have been happy to source new rolling stock offshore, Federal Labor would ensure that, as far as possible, manufacturing associated with this work is conducted locally.

Under our National Rail Manufacturing Plan we would work with States, businesses, training providers and unions to turn new railway projects into opportunities to create new local manufacturing jobs in Australia.

Importantly, this will open up opportunities to create apprenticeships that will allow young people to develop skills that will lead them to solid, long-term jobs in manufacturing.

Labor is determined to ensure that we not only invest in better public transport across Australia, but also use those investments to create jobs and training opportunities for young Australians.

The Morley-Ellenbrook line is a central part of Stage One of Perth’s METRONET program. It will reduce traffic congestion by giving commuters in Perth’s north-eastern suburbs the option of fast and efficient travel to the City.